Week in Review

Sept. 20, 2013
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall.

Council Proclaims September as National Preparedness Month
The Richardson City Council on Monday issued a proclamation designating September as National Preparedness Month. The City’s Office of Emergency Management has joined a nationwide effort this month to encourage Americans to prepare themselves and their families in case of an emergency or natural disaster.

The Office of Emergency Management urges residents to be prepared by knowing an appropriate response in case of an emergency, creating a family emergency plan and building an emergency supply kit. The City offers several online resources at bit.ly/1epIxcY to help residents be prepared. Learn more about the nationwide efforts to promote preparedness at ready.gov.

Richardson to Join Air North Texas Efforts
The City of Richardson will soon be an official partner of Air North Texas, a public awareness campaign that encourages residents to make clean air choices. The City Council discussed joining the coalition of regional organizations committed to improving the air in North Texas at its Monday work session.

Richardson will receive a variety of air quality resources as an Air North Texas Partner and have the opportunity to compete for annual awards. The City will promote clean air choices to people who live and work in Richardson, send a representative to task force meetings and submit annual progress reports.

National Voter Registration Day Celebrated Tuesday
Several organizations will celebrate National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, Sept. 24, to encourage Americans to exercise their right to vote. In Texas, voters may download an application online at votetexas.gov that may be filled out, printed and mailed to your county’s voter registrar. Voter registration applications are also available at City Hall in the City Secretary's Office.

Nearly 50 Department of Public Safety driver license offices will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 2 to offer free Election Identification Certificates (EIC), an approved form of identification for those without a photo ID. The Nov. 5 election will be the first in Texas to require voters statewide to show a photo ID at the polls.

EIC applicants must present proof of citizenship and identity. They may also obtain an EIC during regular license office hours. Nearby offices offering Saturday hours include the Garland Mega Center at 4445-A Saturn Rd., and the Plano Office at 2109 W. Parker Rd., #224.

For more information on registering to vote, contact the Dallas County Elections Office at 214-819-6389 or the Collin County Elections Administrator at 972-424-1460 ext. 1990. You may also contact the Richardson City Secretary's Office at 972-744-4290 or visit cor.net/Elections.

City to Conduct Ground Spraying for Mosquitoes
The Richardson Health Department plans to ground spray a single area Sunday and Monday night, weather permitting, in order to help prevent the spread of the West Nile virus. The decision to spray comes after City Health Department workers were notified that a trap located within the subject spraying location returned mosquitoes that tested positive for carrying the disease.

The spray area is from Breckinridge/Toler Park east to Murphy Road and Aberdeen Drive south to Pepperridge Drive. The spraying is scheduled to take place between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Richardson began its West Nile virus monitoring program in April, which is the earliest it has ever begun testing for signs of the virus. The Richardson City Council approved increased surveillance this year due to the heightened incidence of West Nile virus cases experienced in the Metroplex in 2012.

For more information on Richardson's mosquito abatement program please visit cor.net/mosquito.

Lanes on Jupiter Road Closed to Repair Water Line
Lanes on southbound Jupiter Road at Belt Line Road will remain closed for several days as City of Richardson crews continue to repair a water line at the location.

Southbound Jupiter Road is reduced to one lane, and the closure is expected to remain in effect for several days until all repairs are completed. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes until the lanes reopen.

The leak on the eight-inch water line is believed to have been caused by shifting soil in the area due to dry conditions.

Another water line under westbound Main Street just west of Greenville Avenue was repaired by City of Richardson crews Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Revitalization Award Nomination Period Ends
Today was the deadline to submit nominations for 2013 Community Revitalization Awards, which recognize owners who have made significant improvements to their residential or non-residential properties. Nominations received after today will be considered for next year’s awards.

The 2013 nominations will be passed on to a Judging Committee that consists of two City Council members, two City Plan Commissioners and a representative of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. The judges will consider how the improvements positively impacted the immediate area and beyond, among other factors. Winners will be honored by the City Council at an awards ceremony in February.

ArtStop to Feature New Activities for Kids at Cottonwood Art Festival
Children will have new opportunities to let their creativity shine at ArtStop, the interactive kids area at Cottonwood Art Festival. Richardson’s Community Services Department will educate children about recycling as they create necklaces or bracelets by rolling strips of old magazines into beads and folding newspapers into hats at the Rockin' & Rollin' station.

Eisemann Center Events
The Eisemann Center will host several events in the coming week. The Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation will present the Islamic Art Revival Series 2013 at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $8.50, and student, senior and children’s discounts are available. Learn more at islamicartrevival.com.

Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 972-744-4650 or visiting eisemanncenter.com.

Richardson Poets Group to Hold Reading at Library
The Richardson Poets Group will present its third annual poetry reading from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Richardson Public Library’s Basement Program Room. Special guest reader will be Michael Helsem, a Dallas poet and painter, as well as creator of videos and electronic music. Featured poets from the Poets Group will be Leigh Allen, Joan Canby, Matt Dalzell, Cornelia Blair, John Wilkinson, Marjorie Rosenfeld and Ken Bell.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Janet Vance at 972-744-4376 for more information.

Literacy Starts @ Birth Program at Library
The Richardson Public Library will present Literacy Starts @ Birth, a free reading-readiness workshop for parents, caregivers and educators from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Basement Program Room. Attendees will learn tips, activities, information and games designed to help prepare children from birth to six-years-old for reading readiness.

Call the Children’s Department at 972-744-4358 for more information or to reserve a seat.

CFAAA Fundraiser Saturday
The Richardson Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association (CFAAA) will host a Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Applebee’s, 1610 E. Belt Line Rd. CFAAA members will serve breakfast, and the cost is $8 per person. Tickets may be purchased in advance from any CFAAA member or at the Richardson Fire Department Administrative Office at 136 N. Greenville Ave.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Richardson Fire Department Casualty Emergency Relief Fund.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week

Freckles and Princess are both looking for a good home and we would like to them to stay together. They came in together and are best of friends. They are both about a year old, spayed, and current on all their vaccinations.